Enlightened Nationalism

The Transformation of Prussian Political Culture, 1806-1848

Matthew Levinger

Focusing on Prussia from the Napoleonic era to the Revolution of 1848, this book boldly reinterprets the origins of German nationalism by ...

Enlightened Nationalism

The Transformation of Prussian Political Culture, 1806-1848

Matthew Levinger

Description

Focusing on Prussia from the Napoleonic era to the Revolution of 1848, this book boldly reinterprets the origins of German nationalism by tracing its links to eighteenth-century Enlightenment thought. It also presents a new perspective on the role of discourse in historical change, emphasizing how the concept 'nation' transformed the horizon of Prussian political debate.

Enlightened Nationalism

The Transformation of Prussian Political Culture, 1806-1848

Matthew Levinger

Author Information

Enlightened Nationalism

The Transformation of Prussian Political Culture, 1806-1848

Matthew Levinger

Reviews and Awards

"This is a thoughtful, original, well-researched, and well-written investigation of a central problem during a critical period of German history. It will be required reading for anyone wishing to understand how Prussia came to dominate Germany." - Tim Blanning, University of Cambridge

"Matthew Levinger's Enlightened Nationalism provides a fascinating exploration of Prussian political language in the first half of the nineteenth century, which astutely captures the specificities of the time. He both reframes the agenda for German historians and poses the important comparative questions." - Geoff Eley, University of Michigan

"In Enlightened Nationalism, Matthew Levinger asks us to rethink the common perception of Prussian history. This very readable book helps us to understand the rise of nationalism in Central Europe in the course of the 19th century and offers surprising new answers to the question of what kind of country Prussia was." - Hagen Schulze, Free University of Berlin

"Was there a distinctive German path of modernization? Matthew Levinger presents a stimulating perspective on this controversial question. Prussia's nationalism responded to domination by a foreign power, while seeking to avoid endangering the historical foundations of the country's own political culture. Thus, the Prussian experience becomes an example from which one can learn about developments in the modern world." - Dieter Langewiesche, University of Tübingen